Compare towns

Auburn vs Bow vs Ripton vs Lee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has the most expensive homes ($600k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureAuburnBowRiptonLee
People
Population
6,119
8,335Highest
508Lowest
4,576
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9
14% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
Ripton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6k
90% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kLowest
40% above U.S.
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
Bow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
$480,600±$61k
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
— —
Auburn and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,092
159% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
26.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #44 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH — #3 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Bow School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town None in town Bow High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
— —
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U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.